Monroe council raises irrigation connection fee to $2,275, approves community center plan

The Monroe City Council voted 4-0 on Oct. 13 to raise the connection fee for a new irrigation riser from $1,016 to $2,275, according to the meeting minutes. City Recorder Allison Leavitt said that with the irrigation project complete, new connections need a meter, radio and related equipment, and the new figure is based on a quote from Peterson Plumbing. The fee covers a typical connection; longer or atypical ones would be bid individually. Mayor Johnny Parsons said the fee covers only the city's cost. Councilmember Michael Mathie was absent, and every vote that night was 4-0. ^[1]

The council approved the final plan for a new community center, presented by Trent Brown of Sunrise Engineering. Changes added after comments included glass west doors, keyless entry on doors used for food deliveries, audio-visual connections and Wi-Fi in the main room. It also adopted a memorandum of understanding with the South Sevier Senior Citizen Advisory Board, replacing what Councilmember Perry Payne called a prior handshake arrangement. The board's president had hesitated over a liability clause; Leavitt said the city would be responsible only for its own negligence. The president also reported safety gaps found in a walk-through of the senior center, including only two fire extinguishers visible upstairs and none downstairs, and no carbon monoxide detector, and the mayor directed Public Works Director John Draper to follow up. ^[1]

The council adopted its 2026-27 fraud risk assessment, a State Auditor requirement. Leavitt said the city scored 325 of 395 points, which the minutes say remained in the low range, and that the score could not be improved much without steps such as hiring a CPA. ^[1]

Todd Gardner asked to lease part of a roughly six-acre city parcel that is landlocked, fenced and has no water; the city uses it to protect a wellhead zone. He proposed a lease of about 10 years and said he would replace the fence with an elk fence. The mayor said he saw no problem leasing the land but noted the city caps irrigation at one acre per share turned in. The council noted the city has no leasing policy, and the minutes say all water for the parcel would have to be pumped. The council voted to table the request until lease terms are developed. ^[1]

In staff reports, Leavitt said the pickleball courts are nearly finished but over budget, with about $10,000 added for concrete, and that a drinking fountain of roughly $10,000, benches and security cameras were under discussion. The October power surcharge is 0.010, up from 0.007 in September, which she said Utility Financial Solutions verified. Draper said the new well was behind schedule, with permanent pumps expected in about two weeks, and that crews planned to replace the worst section of waterline on 500 North with 4-inch pipe at about $7,000 in parts. Councilmember Candice Barney reported on becoming a Certified Local Government for historic preservation, which would open grants of up to about $20,000 with a 50/50 match, and she reported that state historic preservation officials said a CLG commission does not control land use; the council voiced no objection to hearing more. ^[1]